U.S. patent application number 11/113154 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for method and apparatus for cdma timer-based registration on a mobile device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Research in Motion Limited. Invention is credited to Qingzhong Jiao, Wen Zhao.
Application Number | 20060240823 11/113154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37187588 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060240823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jiao; Qingzhong ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Method and apparatus for CDMA timer-based registration on a mobile
device
Abstract
A method and apparatus for improved timer based registration for
a mobile device with a network, the network having a standard slot
cycle time for interrupts, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at the mobile device, a system parameter message from
the network, the message having a value indicating a frequency for
periodic registration; setting a timer value on a timer at the
mobile device, the timer value being greater than the standard slot
cycle time; setting a counter to count expiration of the timer;
starting the timer; upon expiration of the timer, decrementing the
counter; upon the counter reaching zero, waiting for a paging slot
to communicate with the network; and sending a registration message
to the network on the paging slot.
Inventors: |
Jiao; Qingzhong; (Nepean,
CA) ; Zhao; Wen; (Kanata, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MOFFAT & CO
427 LAURIER AVEUE W., SUITE 1200
OTTAWA
ON
K1R 7Y2
CA
|
Assignee: |
Research in Motion Limited
|
Family ID: |
37187588 |
Appl. No.: |
11/113154 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/435.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 60/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/435.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/20 20060101
H04Q007/20 |
Claims
1. A method for improved timer based registration for a mobile
device with a network, the network having a standard cycle time for
interrupts, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving, at
the mobile device, a system parameter message from the network, the
message having a value indicating a frequency for periodic
registration; b) setting a timer value on a timer at the mobile
device, the timer value being greater than the standard cycle time;
c) setting a counter to count expiration of the timer; d) starting
the timer; e) upon expiration of the timer, decrementing the
counter; f) upon the counter expiring, waiting for a paging slot to
communicate with the network; and g) sending a registration message
to the network on the paging slot.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the timer value is set to a
multiple of the standard cycle time.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the multiple of the cycle time
represents the shortest registration time allowed in the
network.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the timer is set to a remainder
value when the counter is one value from expiring, the remainder
value being the frequency of periodic registration minus the time
elapsed since a previous registration message has been sent.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the timer is set to expire at an
interval equal to the cycle time and a counter is set to a
remainder value, the remainder value being the frequency of
periodic registration minus the time elapsed since a previous
registration message has been sent, divided by the cycle time.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a CDMA
network.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the counter is set to zero and
the timer value is set to the frequency for periodic registration
value.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the timer is implemented in
hardware.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of resetting
the counter and restarting the timer after the sending step.
10. A mobile device having improved timer based registration with a
network having paging slots, the network requiring a standard cycle
time for interrupts, the mobile device comprising: a) a receiver
for receiving a system parameter message from the network, the
message having a value indicating a frequency for periodic
registration; b) a timer having a settable timer value; c) means
for setting the timer value to a value greater than the standard
cycle time; d) a counter to count expiration of the timer; and e) a
transmitter for sending a registration message to the network,
wherein the mobile device sets the timer and counter based on the
value indicating the frequency for periodic registration, starts
the timer, decrements the counter when the timer reaches zero,
waits for the next paging slot when the counter reaches zero and
sends the registration message in the paging slot.
11. The mobile device of claim 10 wherein the means for setting the
timer value sets the timer value to a multiple of the standard
cycle time.
12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the multiple of the
cycle time represents the shortest registration time allowed in the
network.
13. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the means for setting
the timer value sets the timer value to a remainder of the value of
frequency for periodic registration minus the time elapsed since a
previous registration message was sent.
14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the means for setting
the time value sets the timer value to the remainder when the
counter is one value away from expiring.
15. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the means for setting
the timer value sets the timer value to a cycle time and the
counter is set to a value representing a remainder, in cycle time
counts, of frequency for periodic registration minus the time
elapsed since a previous registration message was sent
16. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the network is a CDMA
network.
17. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the counter is set to
zero and the timer value is set to the frequency for periodic
registration value.
18. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the timer is implemented
in hardware.
19. The mobile device of claim 10, wherein the mobile device
includes means for resetting the counter and restarting the timer
after transmitting a registration message.
Description
FIELD OF THE APPLICATION
[0001] The present application relates to timer-based registration
for a mobile device in a CDMA network, and more specifically to a
method and apparatus for the reduction of the number of interrupts
currently required in order to maintain registration on a CDMA
network.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the current "Upper Layer (Layer 3) Signalling Standard
for CDMA2000 Spread Spectrum Systems, Release 0" (3GPP2 CS0005-0
Version 3.0), section 2.6.5.1.3 specifies that a mobile station
must increment a timer-based registration counter once every 80 ms
whenever a variable entitled COUNTER_ENABLED is set to YES. If the
mobile station is operating in slotted mode, it can increment the
timer-based registration counter when it begins to monitor the
Paging Channel and it should increment its counter as if it was in
non-slotted mode.
[0003] The same standard requires that the registration period be
calculated with the formula T=2.sup.PRD/4.times.80 ms where PRD is
in the range of 29 to 85. At the longest period for
re-registration, the above standard therefore requires that a
mobile station needs more than 2.4 million interrupts before the
mobile performs a registration. At the shortest time period the
number of interrupts required is 152.
[0004] When a mobile enters a slotted mode, the mobile is supposed
to be relieved from the above burden since there should be no
interrupts during the sleep period because the CPU is shut down.
However, in reality, this is still unworkable. Many mobile devices
include PDA and game functionality and thus the CPU is still busy
while the CDMA is sleeping. The number of interrupts affects both
the battery life and performance of the CPU and a solution is
therefore required that would reduce the number of interrupts on
the CPU.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present application will be better understood with
reference to the drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a solution for periodic registration of the
mobile station with a base station;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows signalling between a mobile station and a base
station according to the method and apparatus of the present
application;
[0008] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary registration
scenario according to the present application; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device that
could be used with the present application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The present method and apparatus provide for a timer,
preferably in hardware, that takes the place of the interrupts. The
timer is set upon receipt of a system parameter message which
conveys the need for timer-based registration and the frequency of
the timer-based registration. Once the mobile station sends a
registration message to the base station, the timer is reset and is
allowed to run for its duration.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the timer value is set to be a
multiple of the standard value. Thus, for example, in the present
standard which requires 80 ms interrupts, the timer could be set to
a multiple of 80 ms. In a preferred embodiment, the timer value is
set for the minimum time period that re-registration can occur, or
in the case of the above specifications, 152.times.80 ms. One
skilled in the art will realize that not all timer values with be
divisible by the base value and the present method and system
therefore contemplates the ability to set the timer to a remainder
value when the timer is initiated for a final time before
registration. Thus, for example, if PRD is set to 34, T becomes
362. A timer could be run twice using a 152*80 ms cycle, sending an
interrupt after each cycle, and then could be run for the remainder
(362-2*152) or 58*80 ms. The number of interrupts would be three in
this case. In another embodiment, the reminder of the timer is set
to 80 ms cycle. There would be total of (2+58) interrupts in this
case. Compared to 362 interrupts in the prior art, the number of
interrupts is reduced in both cases.
[0012] The timer is preferably implemented in the hardware and thus
does not need to interrupt the CPU until expiration of the timer.
The CPU can store the value received from the system parameter
message for the frequency re-registration and a software counter
could be implemented to count down every time the timer expires and
set a remainder value for the timer for the last cycle prior to the
registration message being sent. This would, as would be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, reduce the number of
interrupts received at the CPU significantly and thus allow the
performance of the CPU to be optimized.
[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, once the timer has
expired, the mobile station next waits for the closest paging slot
to become available and sends the registration message on this next
paging slot. Since the timer expiry should be close to a multiple
of 80 ms, it should occur near the start of the paging slot.
[0014] The present application therefore provides a method for
improved timer based registration for a mobile device with a
network, the network having a standard slot cycle time for
interrupts, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at the
mobile device, a system parameter message from the network, the
message having a value indicating a frequency for periodic
registration; setting a timer value on a timer at the mobile
device, the timer value being greater than the standard slot cycle
time; setting a counter to count expiration of the timer; starting
the timer; upon expiration of the timer, decrementing the counter;
upon the counter reaching zero, waiting for a paging slot to
communicate with the network; and sending a registration message to
the network on the paging slot.
[0015] The present application further provides a mobile device
having improved timer based registration with a network having
paging slots, the network requiring a standard cycle time for
interrupts, the mobile device comprising: a receiver for receiving
a system parameter message from the network, the message having a
value indicating a frequency for periodic registration; a timer
having a settable timer value; means for setting the timer value to
a value greater than the standard cycle time; a counter to count
expiration of the timer; and a transmitter for sending a
registration message to the network, wherein the mobile device sets
the timer and counter based on the value indicating the frequency
for periodic registration, starts the timer, decrements the counter
when the timer reaches zero, waits for the next paging slot when
the counter reaches zero and sends the registration message in the
paging slot.
[0016] The present apparatus and method is discussed below with
regard to a CDMA network. This is, however, not meant to be
limiting and the present method and apparatus could be used with
any broadcast paging system requiring periodic registration. CDMA
is used merely as an exemplary system.
[0017] Reference is made to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a solution for the
registration of messages. As will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art, a mobile station needs to periodically register with a
base station to let the base station know that the mobile station
is still within the network. According to CDMA standards, the
registrations needs to occur within a window that is currently set
between approximately 12 seconds to 15 days.
[0018] On power-up, mobile station 10 receives, from base station
15, a system parameter message 20 that includes the requirement
that the mobile station used timer-based registration and further
includes the frequency of this timer-based registration. The mobile
station 10 notes this frequency and sets a counter. The mobile
station also sets a timer to interrupt the CPU at a defined
frequency. Currently, the specification requires that an interrupt
be sent every 80 ms.
[0019] The mobile station 10 counts the interrupts and once the
required number of interrupts occurs, the mobile station sends a
registration message 25 to base station 15, resets the counter and
starts counting the number of interrupts again until the next
registration message needs to be sent.
[0020] As indicated above, having an interrupt every 80 ms may be
fine on an idle mobile station in a non-slotted mode if the mobile
station is only used for communications. However, today many mobile
stations are also used for alternative purposes, including personal
digital systems (PDAs), games or many other features that are
performed without communication occurring. The 80 ms interrupt
interferes with the performance of these non-communication
functions on the mobile station and are thus undesirable.
[0021] Reference is made to FIG. 2. According to one aspect of the
present method and apparatus, when a mobile station 10 receives
system parameter message 20 from base station 15, a timer 30 can be
set. Timer 30 is preferably a hardware implemented timer which
would not require CPU time. In a preferred embodiment, timer 30
expires in a period that is a multiple of the interrupt period
defined for the broadcast paging system. In other words, using the
numbers from above, the timer value should be set to a multiple of
80 ms. This will result in the timer expiring close to the paging
slot for the mobile station. The mobile station 10, upon timer
expiry 35, can then wait for the next paging slot 40 and upon the
paging slot starting, it can send a registration message 25 to base
station 15.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the timer value expires close to
the paging slot required for the next registration. However, if
registration occurs infrequently, then it may be impossible to set
the timer value to a large enough number in order to accommodate
this infrequent registration. In this case, upon timer expiry, an
interrupt could be sent to the CPU which could include an interrupt
counter as in the prior art and the interrupt counter could count
down until the registration message needs to be resent. However,
contrary to the prior art, the resolution of the interrupts in the
present case is much more infrequent, thereby allowing CPU
functionality to be only minimally affected.
[0023] For example, if the timer value needs to be within a
two-word resolution, this might mean that the maximum timer value
could be set to 15 hours depending on the frequency of the crystal
used in the timer incrementation. Thus, if the registration period
is 45 hours, a CPU could have an interrupt counter set to 3 and if
the timer expired three times, the registration message would be
sent. This would be contrary to the over 2 million interrupts sent
to the CPU in the prior art.
[0024] Alternatively, even if the timer expiry is set to the
minimum registration frequency allowed, for example in the above
case 152.times.80 ms, or 12.16 seconds, this would still only be
13,300 interrupts compared with the over 2 million interrupts.
Again, CPU performance would not be greatly reduced by this number
of interrupts. Further, battery would also be saved by having less
interrupts at the CPU.
[0025] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in order
to come close to the start of a paging channel slot for
registration the timer will need to be able to accommodate a
remainder value for the final iteration of timer, since not all
values for registration are divisible by the minimum registration
frequency. As outlined above, if the system parameter message
requires re-registration to occur where PRD is set to 34, then
according to the formula T=2.sup.PRD/4*80 ms, re-registration
should occur every 362*80 ms. If the timer is set to 152*80 ms then
a timer counter will need to be set to 2 to count down the
expiration of the time. The timer would then need to be set to the
remainder, or 362-2*152=58 iterations, or 58*80 ms in duration.
Upon expiration of the remainder count a re-registration message
can be sent immediately or in the next paging slot.
[0026] Other methods are also available to implement the above. The
counter could be set to the value of the re-registration period
divided by the minimum re-registration frequency, and rounded up to
the next integer value. Then, when the counter is 1 the timer could
be set to the remainder. Other methods of implanting the above
would also be known.
[0027] Reference is now made to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary
method according to the present application. As seen in FIG. 3,
when a mobile station 10 starts up, it receives a system parameter
message (SPM) which includes the frequency that the mobile station
needs to register with the base station. This is received at step
310. The mobile station next proceeds to step 312 in which a
counter is set and step 313 in which a timer is set. As indicated
above, the defined interrupt cycle in the present CDMA networks is
set to 80 ms and the timer could be set to a multiple of this
cycle. In one embodiment the multiple could be the minimum
registration period. This could be, for example, the minimum
152.times.80 ms periods, or 12.16 seconds. Thus the counter could
be set to a multiple of 12.16 seconds to achieve the frequency
received at the system parameter message in step 310. In one
embodiment, the counter could be set to the frequency received at
step 310 divided by the cycle multiple, and rounded up or down to
the nearest integer. If rounded down, the timer could be set to a
remainder value as defined below when the counter reaches 0, or if
rounded up the timer could be set to a remainder value when the
counter reaches 1.
[0028] Mobile station next proceeds to step 314 in which the CPU is
waiting for an interrupt. As will be appreciated by one skilled in
the art, the CPU does not really wait for an interrupt but for
illustrative purposes, FIG. 3 shows a waiting process. An interrupt
has not been received, the mobile station stays at step 314. Once
an interrupt has been received, mobile station 10 proceeds to step
316 in which the counter set in step 312 is decremented. In step
318, the mobile station checks whether the counter has expired, in
which case the mobile station sends a registration message to the
base station at step 326 and then resets the counter to its
previous value in step 328. After step 328, the mobile station goes
back to step 312 and waits for interrupts to decrement the counter
again in steps 314 and 316.
[0029] The illustration of FIG. 3 shows the mobile device in step
318 checking to see whether the counter has reached 1. This assumes
that the counter value was rounded up to the next nearest integer
when the division between the re-registration period and the cycle
multiple was performed. As indicated above, this could be a value
of zero if the integer was calculated by rounding down.
[0030] If in step 318 the counter has not yet reached one, then the
mobile station proceeds back to step 313 in which the timer is set
and step 314 in which the mobile station waits for an interrupt in
order to continue to decrement the counter.
[0031] If in step 318 the counter is found to be 1, the mobile
station proceeds to step 320 in which the timer value is set to the
remainder of the re-registration period. The mobile station next
proceeds to step 322 in which it waits for an interrupt signaling
that the timer has expired. This will indicate that the mobile
station should proceed to steps 324 and 326 to send the
re-registration message in the next paging channel slot.
[0032] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the
diagram of FIG. 3 could be simplified if the mobile station knows
the timer length and this timer length is not longer than a timer
could be set to. For example, if the registration is to occur every
15 minutes, the counter could be set to a 15 minute counter in
which case steps 316 and 318 are not required and the only time an
interrupt occurs is when the timer expires, indicating that a
registration should be sent in step 326 and the mobile station then
waits for the expiration of the next time in order to again send
that registration message.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, mobile station 10 waits for a
paging channel in step 324 prior to sending registration 326. Since
the timer does not necessarily expire at the start of a paging
channel slot, the mobile station should wait for this paging
channel slot in the preferred embodiment.
[0034] The above therefore describes a method and apparatus in
which the number of interrupts sent to a CPU is greatly reduced in
order to ensure the CPU performance. Upon receipt of the frequency
of the registration, a timer can be set. In a preferred embodiment,
the timer could be set to a multiple of a predefined cycle to
maintain synchronization with the network and with a final setting
to a remainder value, provide the expiration of a timer close to
the start of a paging channel slot.
[0035] One skilled in the art will appreciate that many mobile
stations could be used to implement the above. FIG. 4 illustrates
an exemplary mobile station that could be used with the above
method. Mobile station 1100 is preferably a two-way wireless
communication device having at least voice and data communication
capabilities. Mobile station 1100 preferably has the capability to
communicate with other computer systems on the Internet. Depending
on the exact functionality provided, the wireless device may be
referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a wireless
e-mail device, a cellular telephone with data messaging
capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data
communication device, as examples.
[0036] Where mobile device 1100 is enabled for two-way
communication, it will incorporate a communication subsystem 1111,
including both a receiver 1112 and a transmitter 1114, as well as
associated components such as one or more, preferably embedded or
internal, antenna elements 1116 and 1118, local oscillators (LOs)
1113, and a processing module such as a digital signal processor
(DSP) 1120. As will be apparent to those skilled in the field of
communications, the particular design of the communication
subsystem 1111 will be dependent upon the communication network in
which the device is intended to operate. For example, mobile
station 1100 may include a communication subsystem 1111 designed to
operate within the Mobitex.TM. mobile communication system, the
DataTAC.TM. mobile communication system, GPRS network, UMTS
network, EDGE network or CDMA network.
[0037] Network access requirements will also vary depending upon
the type of network 1119. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC
networks, mobile station 1100 is registered on the network using a
unique identification number associated with each mobile station.
In UMTS and GPRS networks, and in some CDMA networks, however,
network access is associated with a subscriber or user of mobile
station 1100. A GPRS mobile station therefore requires a subscriber
identity module (SIM) card in order to operate on a GPRS network,
and a RUIM in order to operate on some CDMA networks. Without a
valid SIM/RUIM card, a GPRS/UMTS/CDMA mobile station may not be
fully functional. Local or non-network communication functions, as
well as legally required functions (if any) such as emergency
calling, may be available, but mobile station 1100 will be unable
to carry out any other functions involving communications over the
network 1100. The SIM/RUIM interface 1144 is normally similar to a
card-slot into which a SIM/RUIM card can be inserted and ejected
like a diskette or PCMCIA card. The SIM/RUIM card can have
approximately 64K of memory and hold many key configuration 1151,
and other information 1153 such as identification, and subscriber
related information.
[0038] When required network registration or activation procedures
have been completed, mobile station 1100 may send and receive
communication signals over the network 1119. Signals received by
antenna 1116 through communication network 1119 are input to
receiver 1112, which may perform such common receiver functions as
signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel
selection and the like, and in the example system shown in FIG. 4,
analog to digital (A/D) conversion. A/D conversion of a received
signal allows more complex communication functions such as
demodulation and decoding to be performed in the DSP 1120. In a
similar manner, signals to be transmitted are processed, including
modulation and encoding for example, by DSP 1120 and input to
transmitter 1114 for digital to analog conversion, frequency up
conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over the
communication network 1119 via antenna 1118. DSP 1120 not only
processes communication signals, but also provides for receiver and
transmitter control. For example, the gains applied to
communication signals in receiver 1112 and transmitter 1114 may be
adaptively controlled through automatic gain control algorithms
implemented in DSP 1120.
[0039] Network 1119 may further communicate with multiple systems,
including a server 1160 and other elements (not shown). For
example, network 1119 may communicate with both an enterprise
system and a web client system in order to accommodate various
clients with various service levels.
[0040] Mobile station 1100 preferably includes a microprocessor
1138 which controls the overall operation of the device.
Communication functions, including at least data and voice
communications, are performed through communication subsystem 1111.
Microprocessor 1138 also interacts with further device subsystems
such as the display 1122, flash memory 1124, random access memory
(RAM) 1126, auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems 1128, serial
port 1130, keyboard 1132, speaker 1134, microphone 1136, a
short-range communications subsystem 1140 and any other device
subsystems generally designated as 1142.
[0041] Some of the subsystems shown in FIG. 4 perform
communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may
provide "resident" or on-device functions. Notably, some
subsystems, such as keyboard 1132 and display 1122, for example,
may be used for both communication-related functions, such as
entering a text message for transmission over a communication
network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task
list.
[0042] Operating system software used by the microprocessor 1138 is
preferably stored in a persistent store such as flash memory 1124,
which may instead be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage
element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the operating system, specific device applications, or parts
thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile memory such as
RAM 1126. Received communication signals may also be stored in RAM
1126. Further, a unique identifier is also preferably stored in
read-only memory.
[0043] As shown, flash memory 1124 can be segregated into different
areas for both computer programs 1158 and program data storage
1150, 1152, 1154 and 1156. These different storage types indicate
that each program can allocate a portion of flash memory 1124 for
their own data storage requirements. Microprocessor 1138, in
addition to its operating system functions, preferably enables
execution of software applications on the mobile station. A
predetermined set of applications that control basic operations,
including at least data and voice communication applications for
example, will normally be installed on mobile station 1100 during
manufacturing. A preferred software application may be a personal
information manager (PIM) application having the ability to
organize and manage data items relating to the user of the mobile
station such as, but not limited to, e-mail, calendar events, voice
mails, appointments, and task items. Naturally, one or more memory
stores would be available on the mobile station to facilitate
storage of PIM data items. Such PIM application would preferably
have the ability to send and receive data items, via the wireless
network 1119. In a preferred embodiment, the PIM data items are
seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated, via the wireless
network 1119, with the mobile station user's corresponding data
items stored or associated with a host computer system. Further
applications may also be loaded onto the mobile station 1100
through the network 1119, an auxiliary I/O subsystem 1128, serial
port 1130, short-range communications subsystem 1140 or any other
suitable subsystem 1142, and installed by a user in the RAM 1126 or
preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution by the
microprocessor 1138. Such flexibility in application installation
increases the functionality of the device and may provide enhanced
on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For
example, secure communication applications may enable electronic
commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be
performed using the mobile station 1100. These applications will
however, according to the above, in many cases need to be approved
by a carrier.
[0044] In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a
text message or web page download will be processed by the
communication subsystem 1111 and input to the microprocessor 1138,
which preferably further processes the received signal for output
to the display 1122, or alternatively to an auxiliary I/O device
1128. A user of mobile station 1100 may also compose data items
such as email messages for example, using the keyboard 1132, which
is preferably a complete alphanumeric keyboard or telephone-type
keypad, in conjunction with the display 1122 and possibly an
auxiliary I/O device 1128. Such composed items may then be
transmitted over a communication network through the communication
subsystem 1111.
[0045] For voice communications, overall operation of mobile
station 1100 is similar, except that received signals would
preferably be output to a speaker 1134 and signals for transmission
would be generated by a microphone 1136. Alternative voice or audio
I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, may
also be implemented on mobile station 1100. Although voice or audio
signal output is preferably accomplished primarily through the
speaker 1134, display 1122 may also be used to provide an
indication of the identity of a calling party, the duration of a
voice call, or other voice call related information for
example.
[0046] Serial port 1130 in FIG. 4 would normally be implemented in
a personal digital assistant (PDA)-type mobile station for which
synchronization with a user's desktop computer (not shown) may be
desirable. Such a port 1130 would enable a user to set preferences
through an external device or software application and would extend
the capabilities of mobile station 1100 by providing for
information or software downloads to mobile station 1100 other than
through a wireless communication network. The alternate download
path may for example be used to load an encryption key onto the
device through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to
thereby enable secure device communication.
[0047] Other communications subsystems 1140, such as a short-range
communications subsystem, is a further optional component which may
provide for communication between mobile station 1100 and different
systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices.
For example, the subsystem 1140 may include an infrared device and
associated circuits and components or a Bluetooth.TM. communication
module to provide for communication with similarly enabled systems
and devices.
[0048] The embodiments described herein are examples of structures,
systems or methods having elements corresponding to elements of the
techniques of this application. This written description may enable
those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having
alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of
the techniques of this application. The intended scope of the
techniques of this application thus includes other structures,
systems or methods that do not differ from the techniques of this
application as described herein, and further includes other
structures, systems or methods with insubstantial differences from
the techniques of this application as described herein.
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